Continuous proportional pipeline sampler



March 8, 1960 D. A. SMITH ,ET Al. 2,927,465

CONTINUOUS PROPORTIONAI.. PIPELINE SAMPLER Filed Jan. 7, 1957 2 Sheets-SheeiI 1 arch 8, 1960 D. A. SMITH ETAL 2,927,465

CONTINUOUS PRoPoRIIoNAI.' PIPELINE SAMPLER Filed Jan. 7, 1957 2 sheets-sheet 2 4samples are well known in the art.

Tone or more serious disadvantages.

"sample flow from the line through an orifice into a re- Unite States arent CONTINUOUS PROPORTIONAL PIPELINE SAMPLER Daniel A. Smith, Brea, and Casper J. Weir, Jr., San Luis Obispo, Calif., assignors to Union Oil Company of California, Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California Application January 7, 1957, Serial No. 632,725

11 Claims. (Cl. 73-422) This invention relates to the continuous sampling of fluids and particularly to the continuous proportional samplihg of liquids such as crude oil and the like flowing through pipelines in order to obtain a small sample which is representative of the fluid transported through the lin over any given time interval.

In many applications of lluid flow and particularly in the collection and transportation of crude petroleum it is necessary to obtain accurate representative samples of the uid for analysis. In crude petroleum transportation systems for example, the crude produced from many individual wells is collected and pumped to suitable storage preparatory to refining the material into finished fuels, solvents, etc. In general, payment for the crude petroleum is made to many individual well owners and thevprice is va function ofthe quality of the oil, particularly its gravity. An accurate inspection is therefore required to determine the quality. Even in the situation where the oil is produced from a single owner, the quality may depend upon 'V Athe proportion of oil in the line which is taken from lvarious individual wells. Again an accurate inspection is required to determine the overall quality of the oil during any given .time interval during which the material is pumped through the line. Such accurate inspection requires in the first instance a sample taken continuously at a rate which is proportional to the rate of ow in the line in which sampling is continued over a known period.

Sampling devices which have attempted to provide such At the present time every commercially available type of sampler suffers from One type-takes a ceiver. Although this is continuous it is not truly proportional to the quantity of ilow because the sample stream will continue even if flow in the line stops. The sample rate is not increased in direct proportion to the ow rate in the line.

To avoid this particular problem several other samplers v propose to use propeller driven mechanisms Yin which the propeller is turned by flow of the fluid being sampled, The propeller is usually provided with a gear reduction j unit and the resultant low speed spindle rotation is used to activate intermittently a valve inthe sample line.

though this type collects a sample at a rate which is pro-I portional to the liow in the line, it is not truly continuous and the problems encountered include failure ofthe valve to close due to dirt or other solid materials which may lodge in it. Furthermore, the low speed spindle extends lthrough the wall of the pipeline and the sampling valve is located external to the line. This immediately presents a shaft sealing problem and provides a load on the shaft caused by the packing. This leads to inaccuracy in that there is a substantial degree of slippage between the oil and the propeller caused by the extra load.

Other sampling devices use the spindle rotation to drive small sample pumps which take suction from the line and deliver a sample into a receiver. In these devices the spindle seal problem is encountered again. Furthermore, reciprocating pumps or plunger pumps which are used in these devices deliver an intermittent flow of oil rather than a continuous stream.

In each of these valve and pump samplers, briefly referred to above, the valves and the pumps are located outside of the line where, in addition to the seal problems mentioned, they are readily damaged. Although these devices have partially solved the initial problem, they are completely unable to obtain a representative sample even though continuously taken at a rate proportional to the line iiow because they all utilize a single sample point located at some particular place in the cross section of the line. In pipeline iiow at low relative velocities the liquid flows in viscous flow and thus the water and heavier components gravitate to the bottom of the line and ow along in this region. There is therefore a concentration gradient set up in the line which the previously proposed samplers will not detect. Even when the line is ilowing at higher velocities in turbulent flow and in which all of the uid components are presumably Well mixed together, there is a velocity gradient in which liquids near the center of the line are iiowing at considerably greater velocities than those nearer the pipeline walls. A single sampling point past which the oil velocity is a given value provides a proportional sample only with respect to that point, not with respect to the entire line.

The present invention is releated to an improved pipeline sampler which is completely contained within the line or within a commercially available itting whose nominal size is the same as the nominal sizeof the pipeline, a device which is free of the rotating spindle or shaft seal problems, which is actuated by the ow of fluid in the line, which is capable of delivering a representative 'sample instantaneously as a function of the absolute pipeowing may be obtained.

It is therefore a primary object of this invention to provide an improved continuous sampling device for the taking of representative samples from flowing fluids.

It is a specific object of this invention to provide an -improved apparatus for the continuous proportional samrpling of fluids owing through pipelines.

It is a more specific object to provide a propeller-driven continuous and proportional sampling apparatus disposed within a pipeline and including two double-acting reciprocating positive displacement valveless pumps each timed mechanically at out of phase with each other to deliver a continuous proportionate sample stream.

It is a further object to provide in an apparatus as dened in the previous objects an apparatus for the sampling of the entire cross sectional area of the line to avoid inaccuracy heretofore resulting from the lamination or stratilication of fluids in the line or from velocity gradients in the line.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art as the description and illustration thereof proceed.

Briefly the present invention comprises a continuous ow sampling device actuated by the flow of the uid in the line to be sampled and which delivers a continuous sample stream of the pipeline fluid .by means of a propeller-driven, valveless, plural cylinder, reciprocating pump. The pump is supported in the line, or preferably within a pipeline fitting such as a T. The sample outlet line extends through a blind ange on the T side outlet. The sampling apparatus consists essentially of a corrosion resistant housing or body element preferably stream- -of the device, that is, a position facing each other.

shown.

Continued operation for an additional 90 brings the mechanism back into the position shown in Figure 1 completing one cycle.

g Referring now to Figure 5, la schematic representation of individual discharge and suction strokes of the various cylinders A, B, C, and D are shown in relation to one another. At 0 represented by Figure l, cylinder A is in the midpoint of its discharge stroke while cylinder C is in the midpoint of its suction stroke. Cylinders B and D are at the ends of the previous suction and discharge strokes and are changing ports to reverse the flow. Because of the manifolding of all discharge ports and all suction ports into discharge and suction manifolds respectively and because of the 90 phase difference between the individual cylinders in the set of fo-ur, the discharge of the apparatus as a whole is shown by the upper darkened `line in Figure 5. `The discharge period of the individual cylinders is designated by A, B, C, etc. suction flow is likewise continuous `and is shown by the corresponding curve at the bottom of Figure 5.

With respect to Figures l through 4 it should be noted that the drawings are semischematic. The driving mechanism and the housing or body element enclosing the cylinders and supporting the pistons and the drive pinion have been omitted. Furthermore, the location of the suction and discharge ports s and d have been rotated about 90 from their actual positions in which they are most readily manifolded in the course of construction ln other words, in Figures l through 4, the suction and discharge ports are indicated as being at the top of the device whereas actually they are turned 90 to'the right .and downwardly in the left-hand set of cylinders and 90 .to the left and downward in the right-hand set of cylinders A land C so that corresponding suction and discharge .ports Aof cylinders A and B and the corresponding ports of cylinders C and D face each other and are readily manifolded by openings drilled directly through the body or housing between these cylinders. the manifolding of the corresponding suction and dis- Further details in charge ports is more clearly shown in the subsequent figures.

Referring now more particularly to Figure 6, a side elevation view in cross section of the complete sampling device according to this invention is shown taken along the section shown in Figure 7, but in which piston 22 has been removed from the cylinder in order to show the location and angular displacement between the suction and discharge ports in cylinders A and C respectively. Drive lugs 12 and 14 are shown spaced 90 apart from one another on opposite sides of drive pinion 10. Body element 24 is here shown in its preferred form of a stream-lined ellipsoidal shape. The housing is fabricated Vpreferably in the form of a split casting, more clearly shown in Figure 7, and then machined into the form Cylinders A and C and cylinders B and D are formed by boring an opening through their respective halves of the split casting. In Figure 6 this opening is closed at both ends by means of plugs 26 and 28 and .provided with cylindrical liners,.30. and 32. The liners are desirable since they are readily replaced as they wear during use of the apparatus. A third longitudinal opening 34 is bored through the lower part of body element 24 to provide space for propeller shaft 36 and drive worm 38 which engages with pinion 10. A projection 40 at theY upstream end of body element 24 is provided through which the propeller shaft passes and in which are located alignment bearings 42. At the opposite end of this lower or propeller shaft channel is located a plug 44 and thrust bearing 46.

At the upstream end of propeller shaft 36 is located a propeller 48 having four or A eight blades extending x radially from propeller hub 50. Propeller shaft 36 is believen@ ilSrrOF/idedadiaent Worm 33 with Opening The 52. A conduit 54 is thus provided in the hollow propeller shaft which communicates the central chamber 58 lwith a sampling tube 56 supported radially between the propeller shaft blades from hub 50. Sampling tube 56 is open land providesthe inlet for the sample taken from the' line. Because it rotates with the propeller shaft the opening may be made to sweep the entire cross sectional area of the line in the manner appropriate to the nature of the flow so that a completely representa tive sample can be taken.

" The flow communication through the apparatus issuch that the sample ilows through sample tube 56, through hollow propeller shaft 54 and opening 52 into the central chamber 58 which is bored in each half of the split casting and having an axis transverse to the direction of flow. This chamber is more clearly shown in Figure 7. Within the chamberv is contained drive Worm 38, drive pinion 10, and the crossheads not shown in lFigures 6 and 7 but indicated more clearly in Figures l through 4. This chamber is filled with liquid to be sampled tlowing toward the suction ports of the individual pumps. It lubricates the moving mechanical parts driving the pumps as well as the pistons themselves. As previously described, the suction and discharge ports are manifolded between cylinders at each end of housing 10 by drilling holes through the casting between the adjacent cylinders as shown in Figure 7. These holes form the suction and discharge ports s and d where they intersect cylinders B and D not shown, and cylinders A and C, `shown in Figure 6. In order to manifold the suction and discharge ports of the cylinders at each end of the device, suction and discharge manifolds 60 and `62 respectively are drilled through housing or element 24 to connect the openings running transverse throughthe body element between the suction and discharge ports respectively of the cylinders located at the same end of Vbody element 60. The suction manifold communicates lion 10 and drive worm 12 are shown disposed between suitable milled depressions 72 and.74 around the central chamber 58. Drive lugs 12 and 14 are shown which are connected to pistons 20 and 22 by means of cross heads, not shown, but indicated in Figures l through 4. The hollow propeller shaft 36 is indicated running through lower opening 34. The two halves 24a and 24b constituting the split casting forming body` element 24 are also more clearly shown.

The transverse primary manifolds previously describedv connecting the discharge and suction ports d and s respectively in the cylinders disposed at the same end of body element 24 are more clearly shown in Figure 7., These vprimary manifolds 76 and 78 are shown in Figure 7 drilled through the body element in a direction transverse to the axis of the propeller shaft and displaced from one another so that they intersect the cylinder walls in suction and discharge ports displaced from one another by an angle equal to the angle through which the pistons turn. This angle is ultimately determined by the distance which drive lugs -12 and 14 are located radially from the center of drive pinion 10 and the distance between the center lines of pistons 20 and 22. These transverse or primary manifolds 76 and 78 are provided with O ring seals, or other suitable seals not shown, at

the points where they intersect the mating surfaces of the split casting.

Secondary manifolds 60 and 6.2, shown extending 7 longitudinally through Veach half of lbody element '24 in' Figure Y6, are :also .shown inFigure 7. These manifolds are of an .inverted U shape and communicate at their ends with the transverse or primary manifolds 76 and f8 respectively.. Suction opening 64 communicating the secondary suction manifold 6D with central chamber 58 isalso shown.

The rfabrication of the primary suction and discharge maniflds 76 an'd 7S`has been previously discussed. 'The secondary suction .and discharge manifolds 60 and 62 are Iformed `by 'drilling V'longitudinal channels completely through thebody element and pluggingthe ends with suitable cap screws or plugs. These secondary suction and discharge manifolds are then communicated with the primary -manifold by chilling additional channels which intersect both the'l'ongitudinal secondary manifolds with the transverse primary manifolds. 'These openings are also plugged at theend which intersects the outer surface of the`body element. This is customary machine shop practice and is well known in that particular art.

:Referring now more particularly to Figure 8, a detailed cross section view of'propeller hub 5t) and the associated 'sampling tube 56 is shown. The purpose of this particular structure is to 'provide a movable inlet opening through which the sample is taken from the line at a -point which sweeps ythe cross sectional area'of the pipeline. ln. this modification, a stationary bevel gear 8i) is disposed at `'the 'end `and at the outer surface of'projectio'n 4) described previously in connection with Figure "6. Stationary'sampling tube 56 extends AYradially from hub `50"andis provided at its outer end with cap 82. 4Disposed"lcmgitudinally along the upstream extremity `of sample tube S6 'isa'fslot 84. Surroundingsamp'leftube 56 is rotatable sampling tube S6 which is provided with aspirallshaped opening S8 and with bevel gear 90. The curving slot 8S extends around'tube y86 by an vamount less than 360 to provide only a 'single intersection with the'longitudinal slot of inner sampling tube 56. Drive 'gear engages gear Si) and 'as propeller'hub 50 turns,'the outer tube y8'6rotates with respect to `thestationary sampling tube 56. Because of the "longitudinal nature of stationary slot 84 of the curved nature of moving slot t88, the opening atthe` intersection Vbetween the tWoslots at point V92. moves radially along sampling tube 56 as V"the propeller turns. "The fluid sample taken into the apparatus at this'intersection point is taken `from 'suc- 'cess'ively diierent parts-of the pipeline Vcross section. :Preferably samplingtube 56 is 'eXtended'to Within reasonable'fmchanical clearances of the inner Wall of the pipeline 'and 'therefore iiuids .flowing along the bottom 'of -the line Aas Well as those flowing in the center of ythe line are samp-led in 'proportion to the extent of their '.presencefandow rate in the line.

In lFigure 9',- across section view-of Figure 8 isshown "taken intlnetlirection indicated. Inner or stationary sampling tube 56 provided with longitudinal slot 84 lis 'tshown-surrounded 'by-cuter or rotating sampling tube -86 having a V curved slot 88.

SInlFigure S10, a modification of the driving gear system lffor the-moving vsampling tube 86 is shown. The curved nature of lslot 88 `islapparent in Figure 10. AY modied Adriving-gearf9.1. is -shownconnected at the lower or innermostiendiofrot-ating'sampling tube 86. Stationaryl samfplingttlbe l`56v'is shown ofset'on propeller hub 50 `but .stilliina nearfradialtposition. A stationary worm-81 .isid'isposed 'at'.the rend "projection l40 and engages the frotating gear 9.1. The :rotating sampling tube 86 is l"turned one n lof a 'revolutionper revolution ofthe ipropellerhubftl --whereinfin is'the number of teeth or @projections fon drive 'gear 91. Obviously the modilicaitionfpermitsfrelatively low rotational -speeds in the'rotat- 'The'nature'f thecui'vature orenrvingslot-88'inrotat-E ing sampling tube .86 `depends upon -the nature of iiow in the :line 'and `the ramount of sample desired at a given radial position. As is well known, the velocity gradient in the line along a given diameter in viscous -or streamline fluid flow lis not the same as the lvelocity gradient across the'samediameter when the 'fluid is in turbulent tlow. Accordingly -the volumetric rate of iiuid iiowing through a diterential annular area located near the pipeline Wall tends to `be considerably less than the volumetric rate of liuid flowing through 'an equal differential annular area at a 'point located nearer to the pipelines longitudinal axis because 4'of velocity diferences. Also in circular pipelines the volumetric rate of fluid ilow through -successive annular areas of equal diierential radius tends to increase as annuli of successively larger radius areselectedbecause ofthe area increase. Combining this latter mathematical relationship with the velocitygradient which is experimentally determined, the variation in liui'd iiow rate'as a 'function ofradial position in the line may be determined. In order to obtain a perfectly representative sample, the sampling point at the intersect-ion of the curved and longitudinal slots of the rotating and stationary sampling vtubes 86 and 56 respectively, describes a spiral in the .line and moves radially'through the cross section ofthe line at a rate which changes l-with increasing radial .distance of Athe sampling point from the line'axis. In this Way, with an overall'constant flow rate in the line, an absolutely representative fluid sampleis taken by the device of the present invention throughout the cross sectional area 'of `:the line. Thus theprohlems of velocity gradients and of 'liuid `stratification in .the line are overcome. Because the device yispropeller-driven and samples the transported --iiui'd at arate'proportional to'the liuid lflow in the line, the vrepresentative sample is yfurther f representative over aperiocl of time of the tiuid .passing the sampling device V'iny a given time interval.

' throughpipelines from soil ields to `refining installations in Southern California. One model corresponding sub- `stantially to the drawings herein was installed in .a pipe- :line and vwas adjusted to-'sample at the rate of 0.8 ml. per barrel of oil passing thesampling device. VFlowrate 'varied .during the .'test 'between limits of about 9600 and 28,800 barrels ofrcrude :oilpercday :The gravity ofthe oil as determined `by .samples taken of oil .entcring'the ,linevariedbetween 29.1 and 32.3 API. The'llow rates as wellasthe'gravities continuouslyuctuated duringthe test. .The afollowing table indicates comparative .data

Vtaken .during the .test comparing .thefAPI gravity rand S;W. & S. (suspended water and solids) obtained on samples taken `with .the present sampling device as well -aswith acommercially available sampling device located adjacentthe device of the present invention in the pipeline-with the inspection of the oil introduced into the line.

running during sampnngime inlet.

It is readily apparent that whereas the Vpreviously used commercialsarnpler failed to give accurate results,

Vparticularly-inrelation to lthe oil'gravities, the device of kithepresent invention provided 'completely proportional and continuously taken samples of oil passing through the line and the gravity of the sample taken checks that of entering oil.

- The device is self-lubricating and is actuated by the motion of fluid to be sampled. The device will not leak fluid when the fluid in the line is not moving although the fluid exists therein under pressure; Because the device is totally immersed in the fluid in the line, vapor locking in the case of liquid sampling is impossible. The sampler takes a continuous sample which is absolutely proportional to the flow rate in the line and which is unaffected by velocity and concentration gradients existing in the line. In one modification of this invention a variable pitch propeller is provided so as to control directly the size of the sample relative to the volume of fluid flowing in the line. The sampler utilizes no shaft packing and is located internally so that no damage to the device is likely. By reversing the drive pinion in the sampler or by other means, the sampler can be employed to inject fluids at very low rates into the fluid flowing in the line. This is highly desirable in treating uids such as by adding tetraethyllead to gasoline, injecting inhibitors, additives, and other ingredients into gasoline, and the like.

A particular embodiment of the present invention has been hereinabove described in considerable detail by way of illustration. It should be understood that various other modifications and adaptations thereof may be made by those skilled in this particular art without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention as set forth in the appended claims.

We claim:

l. An apparatus for taking a continuous proportional sample of fluids flowing through a pipeline which cornprises a body element provided internally with a pair of parallel elongated cylindrical openings and a transverse central opening intersecting said cylindrical openings intermediate their ends, a piston having a longitudinal slot extending from each end thereof and reciprocable and rotatable through a restricted arc in each of said cylindrical openings, a crosshead attached to the intermediate portion of each of said pistons in said central opening, a pinion drive gear disposed Within said central opening, a drive lug on each side of said pinion and disposed 90 apart from each other and each engaged with one of said crosslieads, a hollow propeller shaft opening at one end into said central chamber, a Worm gear at that end engaged with said pinion, 'a propeller at the other end of said shaft, a hollow sampling tube disposed substantially radially from said shaft, said sampling tube contacting the flowing fluid adjacent the propeller and communicating with the opening in said propeller shaft, said body element also having at each end thereof a primary suction and a primary discharge manifold extending transversely therethrough into intersection with said cylindrical openings forming suction and discharge ports separated from each other by the same arc and registerable with said longitudinal slot as said pistons rotate, said primary suction manifolds being connected together and with said central chamber, said primary discharge manifolds being connected together, and an outlet conduit communicating the discharge manifolds with a sample receiver.

2. An apparatus according to claim l wherein said body element is in the form of a stream lined elipsoidal geometric element consisting of two symmetrical halves divided along a plane passing between said cylindrical openings and through said central opening, in combination with means for securing said halves ltogether.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said primary suction manifolds are connected together through a U-shaped secondary manifold provided in said body element, said secondary manifold opening lalso into said central chamber, and wherein said primary discharge manifolds are connected together through a U-shaped secondary discharge manifold provided in said body element, said outlet conduit being connected directly to said secondary discharge manifold.

4.y An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein s-aid sampling tube is provided with a capi at its-outer end and with a longitudinal slot extending substantially along its `entire length, in combination with an outer rotatable sampling tube provided with a curving slot surrounding said sampling tube, and means for turning the outer rotatable sampling tube relative to the inner sampling tube during rotation of said propeller.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said means for turning said outer rotatable sampling tube comprises a first bevel gear attached to said rotatable sampling tube adjacent its inner end, and a second stationary bevel gear in engagement with said first bevel gear and attached to said body element.

6. An apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said means for turning said outer rotatable sampling tube comprlses a stationary worm gear attached to said body e1ement, and a gear in engagement with said worm and attached to the innermost end of said outer rotatable sampling tube.

7. An apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the longitudinal slot in said inner sampling tube faces upstream in the flow of fluid past the propeller.

8. An apparatus according to claim 4 Vwherein the curvature of said curving slot in said outer rotatable sampling tube provides at the intersection thereof with said longitudinal slot in said sampling tube a samlpling. point which sweeps substantially the entire cross section of the fluid flow as the propeller rotates and whose radial distance from the axis of propeller rotation changes at a rate which changes with increasing radial distance from said axis.

9. An apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said curving slot extends around said outer rotating sampling tube by an amount less than 360 to provide only a single. intersection with said longitudinal slot.

10. An apparatus for taking a continuous proportional sample of fluids owing through a pipeline and for injecting other fluids into said fluids flowing through said pipeline, which comprises a body element provided .internally with at least one elongated cylindrical opening and a transverse central opening, a piston having a lon-- gltudinal slot extending from each end thereof and reciprocable and rotatable through a restricted arc in said cylindrical opening, drive means attached to the intermediate portion of said piston in said central opening for alternately driving said piston longitudinally and rotating 1t through said arc, a propeller in said pipeline adapted to rotate in response to the flow of the fluids therein, saidi propeller being adapted to actuate said drive means, sampling means contacting the fluids flowing in said pipeline, and sample receiver means, said body element having at each end thereof a suction port and a discharge port extending therethrough into intersection with said cylindrical opening, said ports being separated from each other by said arc and alternately registerable with said longitudinal slot as said piston is rotated, said suction ports communicating with each other and with said sampling means, and said discharge ports communicating with each other and with said sample receiver means.

1l. An apparatus according to claim 10 in which said sampling means comprises an inner sampling tube and a surrounding coaxial outer sampling tube, each extending radially substantially from the center of said pipeline to the inner wall thereof, and each tube having a slot extending substantially the entire length thereof, means for rotating one of said sampling tubes axially with respect to the other in response to the rotation of said propeller, and means for rotating both tubes from their central ends in a plane transverse to the pipeline axis in response to the rotation of said propeller, one of said slots being curved with respect to the other so that the two slots intersect to form an opening of limited area, the location- 0f said -opening moving along the lengtt of the sampling mbes as .the one tube is rotated with respect to the .other and also moving in transverse plane as both tubes are rotated therein, the slot `in the fouter samping tube .contacting the fluids owing `in said pipeline and Lthe slot Vin the inner sampling tube communicating with said suction ports.

UNITED STATES PATENTS Thoma-s Aug. 25, y*1914 ThorstenV Nov. v'12, 1935 Hedjuk et al 'May V3, 1938 Waters Feb. 10, 1942 Struck Mar. 12, 1957 

